Our Drilling Rigs Grounded, Water Agency Tells Benue Assembly

Benue State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (BERWASSA) has disclosed that it has no functional drilling rigs, noting that previously donated equipment, including that from the United Nations Children’s Fund, have been grounded since its establishment in 1995.

BERWASSA acting general manager, Tony Mkpen, stated this during a hearing by the House of Assembly Standing Committee on Rural Development and Cooperatives in Makurdi.

He presented a detailed account of the agency’s operations, highlighting several constraints hindering effective service delivery and called for a comprehensive review of its enabling Act to strengthen its regulatory role, particularly in overseeing drilling activities and boosting internally generated revenue.

Among the key issues identified were inadequate office accommodation, a shortage of operational vehicles, weak coordination among Local Government Areas and relevant agencies, and security challenges affecting project implementation across the State.

Mkpen further stated that the delayed and inefficient release of counterpart funding has significantly slowed down ongoing and planned water projects.

During the oversight visit, the Benue State House of Assembly Standing Committee on Rural Development and Cooperatives identified critical challenges affecting water supply delivery.

The lawmakers say urgent intervention was needed to address funding delays, equipment failure, and workforce gaps.

The visit, led by the Committee Chairman, Abraham Zahemen Jabi, alongside Samuel Agada and other officials, was part of the Assembly’s mandate to ensure accountability and efficiency in public institutions.